Health

Mercury rising

Article Abstract:

The UK nursing profession suffers from low morale and a severe staff shortage which could be alleviated by the government awarding them a pay award which reflects their status within society and makes them feel valued. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) claims up to 68% of nurses believe they could move to another profession which would pay more, while up to 70% saw the profession as unattractive because of long hours, low pay and stress. The RCN is calling for strike action if the government fails to improve its 2.5% pay offer for 1999.

A perfect partnership in practice: redefining nurses' roles can be a minefield. But now management and unions are working closers together

Article Abstract:

Unison and the RCN are working together to redefine the traditional roles and career structures of nurses, and a pilot scheme at Ealing Hospital NHS Trust in west London has introduced a new clinical competence based grading structure. The Future Healthcare Workforce, published by Manchester University's health services management team, proposing common core training, had a hostile reception in 1996, but the RCN has been impressed by the Ealing model, seeing it has 'nurse-friendly'.

When satisfaction is not guaranteed

Article Abstract:

Plans by the UK government to introduce nursing pay schemes based on competency would require a national guidance framework and clear definitions of competency, otherwise the system could seriously backfire. Competency is hard to quantify, and any criteria would have to be directly linked to the relevance of nursing. Nursing unions are concerned people will be encouraged to earn more by gaining qualifications which are not necessarily relevant.